The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-07
USEFUL FARM HINTS.
An Interesting Collection OF Reliable Agri
cultural Advrce.

with all facilities for the best cultiva-
ton, will yield better returns than TO-
900 acres without brains, labor and
capital to correspond. In all farm
buildings and fences study utility, har-
mony and elegance. Build substan-
tally, and in accordance with your
means.
Have all your livestock of good
quality, suited to your locality, and to
the needs of your farm; keep no un-
profitable stock.
Select all fruit trees, plants and vines,
with special reference to your climate,
soil, markets and home use.
Use the same Judgment in procuring
seeds. not neglecting flower seeds.
Study the catalogues and choose care
fully.
Keep good variety of the best farm
ing implements. Always have them liz
thorough working order and keep them
well oiled and sheltered when not in
use.
A very important item upon the farm
is proper food. 1t should be abundant,
varied and suitable. Apply this item
to the land, to the livestock and to the
| household.
Feed the land with the best fertilizers
you can obtain, suited to your own par
ticular soil. always remembering that
much of the very best for all purposes
should be produced on the farm.
Feed the livestock well at all times,
with regularity and cleanliness, and
especially at critical seasons of the
year, or periods of life.
Above all, feed the household we'll,
with as much variety as possible, con-
sidering a liberal allowance of good
fruit indispensable.
Feed the intellect and soul, as we'll as
the muscles; do not let single indi-
vidual under your control be a giant in
physical force and a pigmy in intellect
and morality. To this end. always be
well supplied with the best papers, and.
in addition, have a good and varied
supply of other literature, some of
which shall be interesting and profit
able to each member of the household,
including all hired help. The farmer
is responsible, in measure, for the
whole well-being of every employe,
and there is service which no amount
OF money can buy.
Keep every part of the farm as clear
of weeds as possible, paying close at
tention in this respect to oad-sides and
| fence-rOws.
Be vigilant, persevering and exact in
for every thing and every thing in its
place" Have a time for every duty.
and let it be done in its appropriate
time.
In all the work of the farm show
yourself lea der and master. Do not
say ''Go!" as often as Gomez
Be sure in winter to provide full
supply of fuel for the year to come; it
is hard work cutting up old rails in
harvest time.
Do not fail to keep an exact account
of all money received and expended in
the interest of the farm; it will help
YOU greatly to learn how to farm
proftably.
Attend the agricultural fairs of Your
county and State, and make them of
practical value.
Besides cultivating the soil. cultivate
the society of your neighbors. Be
social, cheerful. courteous and agree
able; and ''to do good and communicate
forget not"
Let your influence be felt on the sile
of truth, justice and the common veal
To this end give vigorous aid TO sustain
good schools, good churches and good
government.
Guard strictly against waste. "Gather
up the fragments that nothing be los" -"
This may be applied specially to the
making and saving of manures. How
often we have seen the essential strength
of the manure heap pOlluting the road
side and small streams of water; piles
of oyster shells. bones, old boots and
other rubbish disfiguring the highway;
ashes, soapsuds, SCOT and other waste
material-so miscalled d-adOrning the
backyard, when little time and labor
would convert all into valuable plant
food and greatly promote both the neat
ness and health of the premises. But
most precious are the fragments of time.
Time is money!" and these fragments
should not be squandered but put at
interest
In these intervals of time, when busy
seasons are over, the farmer is tempted
for recreation and society to spend
minutes, and sometimes hours, at the
village store, or other place, with no
definite object in view. 1t is these
fragments of time, leisure moments, in
which the papers should be read and
studied; the work of the season re-
viewed; mistakes and successes noted
down, with the reasons for either as
far as known, and record made for fu-
ture reference.
Plans for future work should be pre-
pared, tools, implements and harness
inspected, and needed repairs made.
ALI stock should be carefully looked
after
Then, having taken care to provide
for the social comfort and happiness of
the home circle, make yourself one of
that circle and enter heartily into its